Ornitholestes

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Ornitholestes

Zoo Tek Phoenix

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Author: Moondawg

Keywords: extinct animals

Date Released: Nov 11 2009

Current Ornitholestes_MD2009.ztd dated 3 November 2009

File Size: 1.37mb

Compatibility: DD and CC

Description: Ornitholestes ("bird robber") was a small theropod dinosaur of the late Jurassic of Western Laurasia (the area that was to become North America).
Almost everything known of this species comes from a single skeleton of Ornitholestes, found near Como Bluff in 1900, and described by Henry Fairfield Osborn in 1903. A hand was later attributed to Ornitholestes, although this attribution is now in doubt. The species name honours the AMNH preparator Adam Hermann.

Ornitholestes was roughly 2 meters (6.5 ft) in length. The head of Ornitholestes was relatively small. Nonetheless, the skull was more robust than that of many other small theropods, such as Compsognathus and Coelophysis, and this would have enabled Ornitholestes to deliver a powerful bite.

Gregory S. Paul suggested the presence of a small horn on the snout of Ornitholestes, similar to that of Proceratosaurus. however this has recently been disproved by Carpenter et al., which indicated that the 'crest' was actually a broken nasal bone. Like most other theropods, Ornitholestes had a long tail, presumably used for balance
Ornitholestes was a coelurosaur, similar in many ways to Compsognathus, though somewhat larger.

The sharp teeth of Ornitholestes clearly identify it as a carnivore, but its exact diet has been a subject of debate in the paleontological community.

In his original 1903 description, Henry Fairfield Osborn suggested that Ornitholestes might have preyed on contemporary birds, based on the "rapid grasping power of agile and delicate prey" suggested by the structure of the hand. In 1917, however, Osborn reevaluated the hand and determined that it was unsuitable for this purpose.

More recently, Robert T. Bakker speculated that Ornitholestes probably hunted small mammals, noting that "the Como furballs were just the right size to fit the predator's jaws."

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Additional info:

Ornitholestes_MD2009.ztd              uca: 9B74F79B dated 3 November 2009

Results From Configuration Checking:

9b74f79b.uca date: Tue Nov 03 23:12:34 2009
No Errors or Warnings to show.
Animal Type: 9B74F79B

Ornitholestes

Almost everything known of this species comes from a single skeleton of
Ornitholestes, found near Como Bluff in 1900, and described by Henry Fairfield
Osborn in 1903. A hand was later attributed to Ornitholestes, although this
attribution is now in doubt. The species name honours the AMNH preparator Adam
Hermann.
    (plus 6 other paragraphs)

Animal Characteristics:

Habitat: Rainforest; Location: North America; Era: Jurassic
Minimum happiness needed for chance of breeding: 97.
Animal can jump.
Animal can climb cliffs.
Cannot be used in original Zoo Tycoon: cKeeperFoodType (7) is not 0 to 5.

Exhibit Preferences:

Foliage:
Ulmo Tree, Mangrove Tree, Elephant Ear Tree, Foxtail Palm Tree
Llala Palm Tree, Rainforest Bush, Rainforest Fern, Orchid Tree, Kapok Tree
Thouarsus Cycad Tree (DD), Fern Bush (DD), Leptocycas Tree (DD)
Williamsonia Tree (DD), Fallen Rainforest Tree (ES), Rainforest Stump (ES)
Rafflesia (ES), Giant Ficus Tree (ES), Durian Tree (ES)

Rocks:
Large Rock, Large Rock - 1, Large Rock - 2, Large Rock - 3, Large Rock - 4
Small Rock - Medium, Small Rock - Small, Small Rock - 7, Small Rock - 8
Small Rock - 9, Stone Ruins, Rainforest Rock - Formation
Mossy Rainforest Rock (ES), Limestone Rock (ES)

Other specifically liked items:
Jungle Rock - Formation

Exhibit Construction:

Number of animals allowed per exhibit: 1-3 with 80 squares for each adult.

Exhibit size (for 2 adults): 160 grid squares

Terrain (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
120 Rainforest Floor, 16 Dirt, 16 Grass, 8 Fresh Water

Foliage (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
8 grid squares should contain foliage.
Foliage that would give the most happiness: Thouarsus Cycad Tree (DD)
Since this is a small plant, greatest happiness will occur
if each of the 8 grid squares contains 4 of this plant.

Rocks (for exhibit with 160 grid squares):
6 Small Rock - Small, which is its most liked rock.

Elevation: Of the 160 squares, 4 nonadjacent squares should be elevated.